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I was just wondering how many of you have or are going to use this program with a 6th grader. I like CTC but know that I will have to separate my kiddos if I use this. My dd is getting older (she'll be in our church youth group next summer) and soon will require a much more rigorous schedule than her brother (9 years old, but will be in 3rd grade in the fall)that I view next fall (her sixth grade year) as being my last opportunity to keep them together. (Also, on a side note, because our house is so small, for the past 6 or so years my dd and ds have shared a room. Now dd, in the summer, will finally be trading rooms with our toddler and will be getting a room of her own. Ds will be sharing a room with our little toddler and his other little 5-year-old sister. He is really having a difficult time realizing that he will not be sharing a room with his older sister anymore. I would like both of them to be together in some way especially before dd starts youth group. They grow up so quickly). Do you feel that with the extension books your dc (6th grade) was challenged enough? Of course, we will be using on grade level courses for the 3 R's. Thanks!

I'm still curious about this...

Playschool,

I used Preparing this year with my 5th grader w/o the extensions and I thought it was enough. She did not have much writing etc before this year so the writing was a little challenging for her though. I think Preparing with the extension with a 6th grader will be enough. I am sure Julie, Carrie or some of the other ladies will chime in here soon with their experiences.

Hi Playschool!
I plan to use Preparing plus extensions this year with a 3rd, 6th & 7th grader. We are currently working through Bigger - with extensions - and it's been a such a incredible blessing to have them all together for a lot of the reading and school work - and enjoying it! Do you currently use HOD? I suggest you look at the book packages and see if it would be fun for you all to study the material. We have a tendency to include other things in our school in addition to HOD - especially in the areas of math, science and great books! So, I suggest that you just get it and if you find that you need to pump up your daughter's workload perhaps add something like an independent science, Latin or a 2nd language, typing or writing curriculum. I have yet to purchase my Preparing, but in the Bigger there are several suggested books for the reading aloud times that can be used as independent readers for your older one - if you have an avid reader; at the same time you can keep her in the same genre or period in history, etc. In my personal opinion there is more than enough to do for my older ones! Hope that little big of information is a help!

playschool,

Preparing Hearts is a very full program, so it should easily be enough for a 6th grader with the Extension Pack. The target age range for Preparing Hearts is ages 8-10 with extensions for 5th and 6th graders, so your daughter is in the target age-range (state standards-wise) to use Preparing Hearts. Plus, it uses a wonderful one-year overview of history that is an excellent jumping off point for future history study.

I will admit that my own 7th grade son hasn't even covered some of the writing tasks, notebooking, Bible content, research, and vocabulary that is found within Preparing Hearts in the same thorough way that my 4th grader did with Preparing this year! This is due to my oldest being ahead of our guides and being our poor test child!

So, enjoy your year knowing your base with Preparing Hearts is solid!

Blessings,
Carrie

Playschool,

I am going to be doing Preparing with two 4th graders and a 6th grader next year. The 6th grader will use the Extension Package. We did Bigger Hearts that way this year and it was an absolute success. I have no worries whatsoever about it being enough for my 6th grader next year. Go forward with confidence! You will love it!!

Tiffini,
I see that your dd will be in 6th next year using Preparing. Do you plan on stopping after eighth grade with HOD? I know that because of both of our dds's ages they would only be able to finish the 2nd year of the history cycle by the end of 8th grade. Do you plan on continuing on in highschool with it, or have you thought that far ahead? Just curious... That is something I pondered if I moved into this program. What are your thoughts? By the way, I saw the clip you posted about your dd's art work winning a prize on Kid's Talk about God. I loved the clip and even showed it to my dd. Her picture was absolutely beautiful, and may I add that she had such grace and poise. You should be proud of her. Thanks again!

Thanks for your kind words about my dd, Playschool. We have had so much fun with the whole thing - and, btw, the contest is still open for next year, so if your kids are interested in art, you should have them enter!!

I totally understand your concerns about your 6th grader and what to do for high school. I went through all of those questions as well. You can see my thread about that at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2901. As you will read, Carrie said that you can add a geography study to the 9th grade year and still use HOD for 9th grade, but after that the last year of the HFHTT cycle will probably not be rigorous enough for 10th grade.

So, I am going to go ahead and take things one year at a time right now. Of course, I am praying along with many others, that God will lead Carrie and enable her to write through high school if that is His will. Nothing would make me happier! If not, though, I know that she will share her high school recommendations with us and I will give those great consideration as I trust her judgment completely. We are of the same mind in homeschooling and she has the expertise and experience that I do not have, so I am so glad to have her guidance and help with that.

One thing I've learned - and you probably have as well - is that nothing in life is certain. I could spend a whole lot of time planning for the future (and I do since I AM a planner), but I really do not know what the future holds. My dd's current illness is helping to make that more real to me. So, I am going to enjoy this journey and be glad that I have HOD through 8th, and possibly 9th grade, and then take it from there. I had things all figured out when I started kindergarten with my oldest and, believe me, that's not what I am actually doing today! - So, one day at a time. For now, I am completely content with sticking with HOD as long as Carrie writes.

I hope you reach a place of peace with your decisions. It is a great place to be when you know where God is leading you and your questions can rest.